Sturgeon Spectacular mugs will be available for purchase at Thelma Friday through Sunday for $2 to be used for drink specials at various businesses.(Photo: Jillian Ellison/ USA TODAY Network-Wisconsin)Buy Photo

FOND DU LAC - Though 2018's Sturgeon Spectacular will be the third year of events held downtown, the Fond du Lac Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is looking to broaden expectations, in terms of activities.

Pete Wilke, director of festival and events for the Fond du Lac Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the annual sturgeon festival has always been centered with family-friendly activities, but this year the festival aims to quench everyone's palate.

Festival goers will be able to purchase 16 ounce mugs at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts Friday through Sunday for $2, with privileges to drink specials at seven downtown businesses: 2.0 AleHouse, Fat Joe's Bar and Grill, Coliseum, Slim and Chubby's, O'Davey's Pub, Ziggy's Pub and Green Dragon Brewpub.

Wilke said by diversifying events, the goal is to bring in a bigger crowd.

"This will be the first year we are offering the Spear the Beer, and there has been a lot of excitement for it," he said. "We are making sure we hold events for all different hobbies, because there are a lot of different interests in the community."

You won't have to crawl the city just for drink specials, however. The Downtown Chili Crawl will also take place Saturday, Feb. 10 for the first 100 patrons at $10 a ticket. With ticket purchase at Hopper's on 77 N. Main St., chili crawlers will receive up to 15 chili samples as well as a t-shirt.

Joe Wallender, owner of Fat Joe's Bar and Grill, said seeing the downtown featured more in the festival's events is a great step.

"This will keep us busy during the day," Wallender said. "We are participating in the chili crawl as well as the Spear the Beer. We will likely do Bloody Mary specials for the mugs."

For the little Michelangelos in the crowd, the Wisconsin Snow Sculpting Competition will be calling for your talents outside of THELMA Feb. 10 at 10 a.m.

Don't fret, however, because you don't see snow on the ground.

"We are very fortunate to have a great relationship with Sunburst Winter Sports Park as they are generously making the snow for us," Wilke said. "The snow comes loose and is delivered to us in massive trucks and is then dumped right onto Sheboygan Street in front of THELMA."

Wilke said the several tons of snow will be delivered whether it snows prior to the event or not.

Do you have some business buzz? Reach Jillian Ellison at jeellison@gannett.com or 920-907-7968; on Twitter: @ellison_writes.